Supplemental filtration for machine fluid systems

Abstract

A fluid filtration apparatus. The fluid filtration apparatus includes a pump, a filter apparatus and a valve assembly. An inlet of the valve assembly shares a common junction with an outlet of the pump and an inlet of the filter apparatus. The fluid filtration apparatus further includes a sensor configured to detect a filter triggering condition and a control module coupled to the sensor and the valve assembly. The control module is configured to control operation of the pump based on the detected filter triggering condition.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A fluid filtration apparatus, comprising:
 a pump, wherein the pump is a supplement to a main pump of an engine; 
 a filter apparatus; 
 a valve assembly, wherein:
 an inlet of the valve assembly shares a common junction with an outlet of the pump and an inlet of the filter apparatus; and 
 an outlet of the valve assembly shares a common junction with an inlet of the engine; 
 
 a sensor configured to detect a filter triggering condition; and 
 a control module coupled to the sensor, wherein the control module is configured to control operation of the pump based on the detected filter triggering condition. 
 
     
     
       2. The fluid filtration apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein an inlet of the pump is coupled to a fluid reservoir. 
     
     
       3. The fluid filtration apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the filter apparatus comprises a fine filtration medium. 
     
     
       4. The fluid filtration apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the filter apparatus comprises at least one of the following:
 an electrical filter; 
 a magnetic filter; 
 a centrifugal filter; 
 a paper-based filter; and 
 a synthetic filter. 
 
     
     
       5. The fluid filtration apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the outlet of the valve assembly further shares a common junction with an outlet of the filter apparatus. 
     
     
       6. The fluid filtration apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor is further configured to output a signal indicative of the detected filter triggering condition. 
     
     
       7. The fluid filtration apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the filter triggering condition is associated with a condition of a fluid. 
     
     
       8. The fluid filtration apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the filter triggering condition is associated with an occurrence of a predetermined event. 
     
     
       9. The fluid filtration apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the control module is further configured to control operation of the valve assembly. 
     
     
       10. The fluid filtration apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the control module is further configured to activate the pump based on the detected filter triggering condition. 
     
     
       11. The fluid filtration apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the control module is further configured to deactivate the pump. 
     
     
       12. A fluid filtration apparatus, comprising:
 a pump, wherein the pump is a supplement to a main pump of an engine; 
 a filter apparatus; 
 a valve assembly comprising a check valve, wherein:
 an inlet of the valve assembly shares a common junction with an outlet of the pump and an inlet of the filter apparatus; and 
 an outlet of the valve assembly shares a common junction with an inlet of the engine; 
 
 a sensor configured to detect a filter triggering condition; and 
 a control module coupled to the sensor, wherein the control module is configured to control operation of the pump based on the detected filter triggering condition. 
 
     
     
       13. The fluid filtration apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the control module is further configured to activate the pump based on the detected filter triggering condition. 
     
     
       14. The fluid filtration apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the control module is further configured to deactivate the pump. 
     
     
       15. The fluid filtration apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising a second valve assembly, wherein an inlet of the second valve assembly shares a common junction with an outlet of the filter apparatus. 
     
     
       16. The fluid filtration apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the control module is further configured to control operation of the second valve assembly.